What we learned about Manchester United vs Hull City and what needs to be addressed ahead of Ipswich Town this weekend.
Manchester United started the season off on the wrong foot after suffering a 2-0 defeat at the hands of newly promoted Hull City.
In the build-up to the game, it was dubbed by many as a ‘David versus Goliath’ clash, and that was a fair assessment.
It is a rare feat to beat one of the big boys, but not an impossible one, and that is why the Premier League is so romanticised and revered.
Where did it go wrong for Man Utd?
In a game like Saturday’s, you can usually tell the pattern that will play out within the first two minutes, and in the case of United, you could.
They were second best in almost every department: duels, desire, intensity. The minimum requirement when you are facing a team that has less quality than you is to match their application, and United did not, paying the ultimate consequence.
Possession is not always equal to control, and that was evident at the MKM Stadium. United had plenty of the ball and created chances of their own. Bryan Mbeumo had a swivelled shot saved before later being played through on goal, only for the goalkeeper to deny him again. Patrick Dorgu also ghosted in between the defenders and should have done better to meet Maguire’s cross.
What may concern United fans most, though, is the greater emphasis being placed on work with the ball rather than running. Youri Tielemans recently revealed in an interview with Rio Ferdinand that there had been more on-the-ball work than running during pre-season, which could be indicative of Carrick’s well-documented desire to change United’s style of play. That is fine, but United cannot neglect the physical nature of the Premier League. The league is becoming more athletic and powerful, and United have to be able to match that. The arrival of Carlos Baleba should help, but the responsibility cannot fall on one player.
For Hull supporters, the afternoon arguably peaked when they were able to aim their infamous ‘You’re getting mauled by the Tigers’ chant at the travelling United fans who watched on with glum faces.
While those concerns should be raised, it is important not to make a knee-jerk reaction after just one game. United still have 37 league matches to put things right, while several new faces are still adapting to their teammates and Carrick’s methods. There is plenty of time for those relationships to develop, and Saturday’s defeat should be treated as a warning rather than a reason to panic.
How can United rectify it against Ipswich?
United face Ipswich in their first home game of the new season on Sunday, with Michael Carrick’s side looking to bounce back from the disappointment at Hull.
The first thing United need is the right attitude. There can be no complacency simply because Ipswich are newly promoted. They have already shown they can compete at this level after beating Sunderland on the opening weekend, and United cannot allow them to gain the same confidence Hull did.
There should also be changes to the starting XI. Marcus Rashford should come in for Patrick Dorgu on the left. The pair shared a half each against Hull, but Rashford could provide greater balance alongside Luke Shaw, with Shaw appearing more comfortable when playing with a natural winger ahead of him. That could give United a more familiar dynamic on the left while also offering greater threat going forward.
Tactically, the challenge is finding a better way through a team that is likely to be more compact without the ball. United cannot simply recycle possession and expect gaps to appear. They need to take greater care with the ball, passing with purpose and poise, looking to penetrate rather than simply retain possession. More movement between the lines and better combinations around the likes of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo could help, but this is not solely a tactical issue. United’s approach, attitude and application all need to improve. Against Hull, all three were lacking at times, and they cannot afford a repeat against Ipswich.
